Includes index. Liff, S. (2007). Managing government employees: How to motivate your people, deal with difficult issues, and achieve tangible. New York: AMACOM.

Chapter 1: Overview -- Introduction -- What Is Different About Working for the Government? -- Why People Come to Work for the Government -- Why do Government Personnel Systems Make Things So Difficult? -- What Can Be Done? -- Chapter 2: Guiding Principles of Managing People in Government Overall Philosophy -- The Objective: Performance -- The Workforce -- Chapter 3: Strategies and Tactics for Managing Government Employees -- Communicate with Employees as Much as You Can (Visually Whenever Possible) -- Teach Them the Big Picture (The Political Climate) -- Teach Them What's Going On in the Local Organization -- Give Them Feedback as to How They Are Doing -- Manage by Walking Around (MBWA) -- Ask Your Employees for Advice -- Say "Thank You" as Often as You Can -- Be Sensitive to People's Sensitivities -- Your Human Resources Management Advisors -- Chapter 4: Dealing with Difficult People -- Overall Philosophy -- Tactics -- Fear -- The Key Players in having an Effective Program of Discipline -- Lessons Learned -- Chapter 5: Performance Management -- Principles -- Goals -- Involvement -- Performance Appraisal -- Dealing with Problem Employees -- Best Practices -- Chapter 6: Rewards and Recognition -- Overview -- Nonmonetary Recognition -- Monetary Recognition -- Alignment -- A Simple Rewards System That Works -- Chapter 7: Attendance Management -- Tours of Duty -- Alternate Workplace -- Leave Administration -- Chapter 8: Labor Relations -- Overview -- Overall Philosophy -- Negotiations -- Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges -- Grievances -- Lessons Learned -- Chapter 9: Equal Employment Opportunity -- Overview -- Philosophy -- The Most Common EEO Issues -- Strategies and Tactics -- How to Handle Filed Complaints -- Final Thoughts

Even the most dedicated, competent government managers can feel overwhelmed when it comes to motivating and managing their employees. And while they strive for excellence in themselves and in their team, many feel that stringent and convoluted regulations mean their hands are tied when it comes to developing their people. But the truth is that with the right strategies and skills, you can inspire superior performance from your employees-both consistently and effectively. Managing Government Employees offers dozen of techniques for meeting the challenges and stressful situations supervisors face on a daily basis. With the same award-winning tactics that he has learned and applied during his years as a manager in various government agencies, Stewart Liff provides the perfect antidote for managers frustrated by government bureaucracy.